Experts link separatist rhetoric in Azad Kashmir to efforts to undermine Kashmir cause

Recent statements by leaders of a banned action committee in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) have sparked debate over what analysts describe as an attempt to shift public grievances toward a separatist narrative that could weaken the broader Kashmir cause.

According to political observers, protests that initially focused on issues such as flour prices, electricity tariffs and inflation have increasingly been accompanied by demands and rhetoric that go beyond economic concerns.

The debate intensified after a leader of the banned Joint Action Committee said that the people of Kashmir should have "their own flag, assembly and passport," and vowed to continue what he described as a struggle for the rights of freedom, choice and ownership.

The remarks have drawn criticism from analysts who argue that such demands mirror narratives promoted by India and could undermine Pakistan's longstanding position on the Kashmir dispute.

Experts said the Kashmir issue has historically been advanced through political unity, institutional stability and reliance on international legal frameworks, particularly United Nations resolutions on the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people.

According to these analysts, calls for separate state symbols and identity risk diverting attention from the internationally recognised dispute and could create divisions within the Kashmiri movement.

They further claimed that the narrative has received significant attention from sections of the Indian media, pro-India social media networks and groups critical of Pakistan's position on Kashmir.

Experts argued that instability in Azad Kashmir could ultimately benefit forces seeking to weaken the Kashmir cause at the international level.

They maintained that while public concerns related to inflation, electricity prices and governance are legitimate issues requiring attention, efforts to attach separatist demands to such grievances could complicate the political landscape and dilute focus on the core Kashmir dispute.

The developments come amid heightened political tensions in Azad Kashmir, where authorities have recently taken action against leaders of the banned Joint Action Committee, citing concerns over law and order and national security.